90 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



CoiinU^ Oreg., miulo complete tii])erciilin tests of all cattle Avithin 

 tlieir boundaries. The eradication of tuberculosis slio^dd proceed 

 more rapidh^ even than in the past wlien it is taken up on the area 

 basis with such beginnings as the three counties mentioned have 

 made. 



The feasibility of not only freeing a region from tuberculosis but 

 keeping it free is shoAvn by the continuance of tubercidin testing in 

 the District of Columbia. Bureau veterinarians tested during the 

 year l,!'^^ cattle in the District, among which were found 3 reactors. 

 These animals, hoAvever. had been brought into the District on a 

 health certificate. In addition to animals within the District which 

 were tested, 425 head were tested for entry, among which 18 animals 

 proved to be reactors and were excluded. 



Investigations of tuberculosis among SAvine continue to show that 

 swine are infected principally by cattle. 



HOG-CHOLERA CONTROL. 



Reports of the Meat Inspection Division continue to sIioav that 

 next to tuberculosis hog cholera is the principal disease for which 

 carcasses and parts were condemned. The bureau cooperated with 

 34 States in investigating reported outbreaks of hog cholera, admin- 

 istering treatment, preventing the disease from spreading, and 

 stamping out the contagion by approved methods of cleaning and 

 disinfecting premises, pens, and yards where cholera-sick hogs had 

 been held. In addition bureau veterinarians conducted demonstra- 

 tions, assisted veterinary practitioners in improving their technique, 

 and conducted general educational Avork. During the greater part 

 of the year 140 veterinarians devoted their time to the control of hog 

 cholera, but in the last quarter, Avhen it became evident that such 

 activities would be curtailed during the fiscal j^ear 1921 oAving to lack 

 of funds, the number of veterinarians Avas reduced. Likewise it 

 became necessary to reduce the educational part of the work. 



TICK-INFESTED AREA IS SMALLER. 



During the year areas aggregating 50,555 square miles, formerly 

 infested with cattle-fcA-er ticks, were released from Federal quaran- 

 tine. The total area freed from ticks since the beginning of the work 

 in 1906 is 509,084 square miles, or 70 per cent of the area originally 

 infested. The work is progressing also in additional territory. Fol- 

 lowing the eradication of cattle-feA^er ticks well-bred stock may be 

 safely introduced; in fact, regions of the South now removed from 

 quarantine are raising and marketing excellent cattle. 



Progress in the control of other diseases and in investigations re- 

 lating to practical methods of prcA^ention are included in reports of 

 various divisions. 



DANGER FROM FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. 



Apparently there never Avas a time when the United States Avas more 

 dangerously exposed to invasions of foreign animal diseases than at 

 present. European countries were unable to giA^e the usual attention 

 to the suppression of infectious diseases of animals durine the recent 



